The LORD is good to those who wait for him, a refuge on the day of distress,
Taking care of those who look to him for protection. ―Nahum 1:7

Nahum is the seventh of the Old Testament Minor Prophets and prophesied at some point before the destruction of Nineveh in Assyria (ruins near Mosul, Iraq), which occurred in 612 B.C. Nahum came from an unidentified place known as Elkosh; some surmise it to have been located somewhere in Galilee, perhaps Capernaum (which can be translated to mean “home of Nahum”). Others claim that Elkosh is the ancient name for the present-day Iraqi town of Alqosh. Most scholars, however, seem to think that Nahum’s hometown of Elkosh was most likely within the kingdom of Judah.

While very little is known about Nahum, his strong emotions surge through his prophecies. This prophet had profoundly felt the cruel oppression of the Assyrian Empire. Assyria had been a brutal powerhouse for centuries, swallowing up the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. and then attempting to bring down Jerusalem; this empire was a constant threat and terror to the Judahites.

Interestingly, the name Nahum means “comforter” and that is what this prophet offered to the people of Judah. He seemed to have a divine understanding that the days of Assyria’s power were soon to come to an end―starting with the destruction of its capital, Nineveh. Nahum shared this premonition with the people of Judah, who surely felt encouragement and hope from his message. Nahum’s highly descriptive and sensatory words that foretold the destruction of Nineveh convey a dramatic and mighty sense of God’s eventual justice. Citing just a few examples, readers can:

feel the quake of a mountain (1:5)

see chariots dashing madly (2:5)

smell the consuming smoke (2:14)

hear the crack of a whip (3:2)

Nahum’s message of comfort to the people of Judah encouraged them to patiently trust in God’s divine justice, assuring them that all would be well―and that God’s power would far surpass the power of the Assyrian Empire.

The feast of St. Nahum is Dec. 1. Consider spending a few days with St. Nahum—read one passage below each day and see what God is trying to tell you through this Old Testament Prophet and Saint.

Thank you for the comments, John, Alexander, and Dr. Cajetan. Glad you found St. Nahum to be inspiring. Blessings, blessings.

Posted by Dr.Cajetan Coelho on Sunday, Dec, 3, 2017 7:24 AM (EST):

Comforter of the afflicted - Saint Nahum, pray for us.

Posted by Alexander on Saturday, Dec, 2, 2017 9:27 PM (EST):

What I get from reading Nahum is that all the forces of the world today that are trying to suppress the truth and destroy religious liberty will be exposed and defeated.

Posted by John Michael Akers on Saturday, Dec, 2, 2017 6:04 PM (EST):

Thank you for this informative article!

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Theresa Doyle-Nelson is a freelance writer from the Texas Hill Country. While her background is in education, with seven years as a teacher and substitute principal, Theresa found writing to be a stronger calling. Theresa grew up outside of the Rochester, New York, area and attended St. Bonaventure University, where her grandfather, uncle, cousin, Godson and nephew are also alumni. After graduating from St. Bonaventure in 1981, Theresa moved to Brownsville, Texas, to teach elementary school, then to San Antonio to teach first grade. While in San Antonio, Theresa had a chance meeting which re-introduced her to an acquaintance from St. Bonaventure, Chad Nelson. The two married within a year, and enjoyed traveling around as a U.S. Marine Corps family. During a three-year stay in Naples, Italy in the mid-90s, Theresa took a correspondence writing course, and has been writing for various Catholic resources ever since. Theresa and Chad have three sons, two daughters-in-law, a future daughter-in-law and four grandchildren. Theresa is also the author of Saints in Scripture.. You can find her online at TheresaDoyle-Nelson.blogspot.com.